The annual question in college football is, “Is Texas back?”
Heading into the 2025 season, it looked like the answer was yes. The Longhorns were coming off an 11-1 regular season and a loss in the SEC title game. Texas then knocked off Clemson and Arizona State in the playoffs before falling to Ohio State in the semifinals.
The Longhorns were favorites in the SEC in 2025, and all eyes were on quarterback Arch Manning as he finally took over under center. Texas had national championship aspirations, and Manning's name was being etched into the Heisman Trophy before he even took the field.
Less than two months later, Texas is 3-2 and no longer ranked in the top 25.
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We take a look at how Texas started the 2025 season ranked No. 1 and by Week 7 fell out of the top 25.
Texas football rankings 2025
- Preseason: #1
- Week 2: #7
- Week 3: #7
- Week 4: #8
- Week 5: #10
- Week 6: #9
- Week 7: Unranked
The Longhorns were fueled in the offseason by the expectations surrounding Manning. He was expected to live up to his last name, and analysts were talking national championship, Heisman Trophy, and No. 1 overall pick for the quarterback in the following year.
Texas opened the season with a tough test against then-No. 3 Ohio State. It turned into a defensive slugfest that the Buckeyes won 14-7. Manning looked shaky through the first three quarters, enough for social media to speculate whether he was playing hurt.
The Week 1 loss to a top team on the road only dropped the Longhorns to No. 7 in the AP poll. Manning again started slowly in Week 2 against San Jose State, but Texas cruised to a 38-7 win — good enough to maintain their ranking. Manning struggled once more in Week 3, this time against UTEP. The Longhorns won comfortably, 27-10, but the uneven performance and other results around the country dropped Texas to No. 8.
A much-needed blowout win over Sam Houston State followed in Week 4, yet poll voters still dropped the Longhorns two spots despite the dominant showing. After a bye week, Texas moved up one spot despite not playing.
The Longhorns entered Week 6 ranked No. 9 for a road matchup in The Swamp against an unranked Florida team. The Gators proved dangerous, escaping with a 29-21 win. The loss — Texas’ second of the season and one that came against a 2-3 opponent — knocked the Longhorns out of the AP Top 25 entirely.
Texas now sits just outside the rankings, second among teams in the “others receiving votes” section, trailing Cincinnati and one spot ahead of Penn State.
MORE COLLEGE FOOTBALL: What's behind Arch Manning's struggles?
Texas remaining schedule
| Date | Opponent |
| October 11 | vs. Oklahoma (Red River Rivalry) |
| October 18 | at Kentucky |
| October 25 | at Mississippi State |
| November 1 | vs. Vanderbilt |
| November 15 | at Georgia |
| November 22 | vs. Arkansas |
| November 28 | vs. Texas A&M |
MORE COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Examining the changing QB Class for the 2026 NFL Draft
Arch Manning 2025 stats
- 5 games
- 135 attempts
- 81 completions
- 60.0% completion percentage
- 1,151 passing yards
- 11 touchdowns
- 5 interceptions
- 43 carries
- 160 rushing yards
- 5 TDs